• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Saturday 28 June 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

SJM’s Angela Leong says rapid recovery from virus pandemic needs new approach to Macau gaming and non-gaming development

Wendi Song by Wendi Song
Wed 4 Nov 2020 at 06:33
Macau entry restrictions placing Grand Lisboa Palace opening date in limbo: Angela Leong

SJM Resorts' Managing Director, Angela Leong.

37
SHARES
936
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

SJM Holdings Co-Chairman and Executive Director Angela Leong says Macau’s operators must change their way of thinking, including reducing distinctions between VIP and mass gaming as well as a greater focus on non-gaming attractions, if they are to expedite recovery from COVID-19.

Her comments to media attending a seminar organized by the Macao Association of Young Employees in the Gaming Industry on Tuesday come in the wake of a slower than expected increase in tourist arrivals to Macau following reimplementation of the Individual Visit Scheme for all of mainland China in September.

“We’re now seeing a certain increase in gambling revenue but under the current circumstances we can’t expect too much other than to strive for stability,” Leong said.

“I believe that all concessionaires are now thinking about switching their current development methods to strengthen the development of non-gaming elements. Some [gaming] measures also need to be changed.”

Expanding on such measures, Leong suggested downplaying the distinction between VIP and mass market players.

“Every guest is our VIP,” she said, “I believe in the future, no matter how much a guest spends, he or she should be treated as our VIP from the moment they enter our integrated resorts.

“In terms of non-gaming elements, we need to think about how to match the current development of the country, especially the development of the Greater Bay Area.

“We need to think about how to increase our tourists, and what they expect to enjoy when they arrive. In addition to the gaming industry, is there any other better environment to increase the number of tourists coming to Macau and spending more? That’s what our current strategy focuses on.”

Leong said this strategy should also be employed as a means of responding to recent reports of a crackdown on cross-border gambling by mainland China.

“We must change our way of thinking,” she continued. “Instead of worrying about the visitors not coming, we’d better think how to bring them back. We all need to discuss how to develop in the future. That’s why we’re having today’s seminar, with scholars from mainland China discussing issues with us. We need to think outside the box.”

Asked about the re-tendering process for Macau gaming licenses – with those of all six gaming concessionaires due to expire in June 2022 – Leong said she hopes new gaming regulations can be promulgated soon. However, she also understands that the government is under considerable pressure in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wang Changbin, director of the Centre for Gaming and Tourism Studies at Macao Polytechnic Institute, said, “I believe the government has been making continuous preparations for amendments to the gaming law – it’s just that some matters involve important issues, so we are waiting for decision-making.

“There is not a complete lack of time. The law allows for one or more extensions in exceptional circumstances, but no more than five years. If something as big as this pandemic happens, there is still room for delay, but it really depends on the government’s decision.”

RelatedPosts

Charles Seo – Opportunity knocks

Charles Seo – Opportunity knocks

Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 13:03
Macau hotel room rates soar ahead of Chinese New Year holidays

Macau’s hotel occupancy rate rises 4.5 percentage points to 87.8% in May

Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 19:24
South Shore shareholders convene SGM to vote on winding up of the company

THE 13’s new owner revealed to be family of Rio Hotel chair Loi Keong Kuong

Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 19:23
Wynn opens Macau’s first Korean medical center at Wynn Palace

Wynn opens Macau’s first Korean medical center at Wynn Palace

Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 05:57
Load More
Tags: Angela LeongChinaGamingMacauMass marketSJMVIP
Share15Share3
Wendi Song

Wendi Song

After years spent studying law – firstly in Shanghai and later in Macau – Wendi started her Macau-based career as a writer and journalist. She’s been published in several English, Chinese and Portuguese newspapers and magazines in Macau for over a decade, including Inside Asian Gaming and its sister magazine High Life, and played a key role in helping develop O Media’s Hengqin Record – Macau’s first weekly email newsletter and website focusing specifically on Hengqin and its role in the Greater Bay Area. Wendi has particular expertise in Hengqin and the Greater Bay Area, and has been the Chinese editor and translator of Inside Asian Gaming since May 2019.

Current Issue

Editorial – An inconvenient truth

Editorial – An inconvenient truth

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 15:21

It’s understandable that political observers, academics and members of the public in greenfield jurisdictions would express caution around the legalization...

Light & Wonder’s Siobhan Lane

Light & Wonder’s Siobhan Lane

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 15:19

Siobhan Lane, Light & Wonder’s highly experienced CEO of Gaming, speaks to Inside Asian Gaming about the company’s ongoing transformation...

Honesty is the best policy

Honesty is the best policy

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 14:13

The Thailand Entertainment Complex Roundtable brought industry stakeholders, politicians and supporters of the government’s Entertainment Complex Bill face to face...

Sri Lanka’s casino industry

Sri Lanka’s casino industry

by Shaun McCamley
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 13:36

Industry veteran Shaun McCamley delves into the complex history of Sri Lanka’s casino industry at a time when the country...

Evolution Asia
Aristocrat
GLI
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
NWR
Jumbo
568Win

Related Posts

Sri Lanka’s casino industry

Sri Lanka’s casino industry

by Shaun McCamley
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 13:36

Industry veteran Shaun McCamley delves into the complex history of Sri Lanka’s casino industry at a time when the country is slowly but surely making moves to establish a genuine regulatory framework. Sri Lanka’s casino industry has a vibrant yet...

More fun in the Philippines

IAG EXPO – Exhibitor registration closing soon!

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 06:31

The cut-off for exhibitors to confirm their participation at the inaugural IAG Exhibition, part of IAG EXPO, closes next Monday 30 June 2025. Don’t miss out on this important event for the Asian gaming industry. All companies who exhibit at IAG Exhibition in...

Inside Thai IRs

Thailand’s Entertainment Complex Bill now at bottom of parliamentary agenda

by Newsdesk
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 06:26

Thailand’s Entertainment Complex Bill will now sit at the bottom of the list of agenda items to be discussed by the House when it convenes after being deprioritized. It will not fall off the agenda completely, however, because this can...

Far East given green light to spin-off and list Czech casino business on Hong Kong Stock Exchange

Hong Kong listed Palasino reports slight increase in revenue, profit in FY25 thanks to growing slot machine count

by Newsdesk
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 06:13

Palasino Holdings Limited, the Hong Kong-listed gaming firm spun off from Hong Kong real estate giant Far East Consortium, has reported a profit of HK$15 million for the year ended 31 March 2025, slightly more than the HK$9 million reported...



IAG

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • 中文

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • 中文
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • 中文
  • English